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Bitcoin, the most iconic of cryptos, is going through a period of relative media calm, whereas memecoins are emerging as true stars of the moment. A drastic drop in Google search volumes for Bitcoin bears witness to this unexpected dynamic. Meanwhile, memecoins, boosted by platforms like Solana and Tron, are attracting unprecedented attention. Is this shift indicative of a lasting change or merely a temporary situation?
Bitcoin in Decline in Searches: A Revealing Fact?
The volume of Google searches for Bitcoin has dropped to its lowest level in a year, with a score of 33 out of 100 during the week of October 7-12, 2024, according to Google Trends data. This figure signals a significant decrease compared to the previous year, when interest in Bitcoin was still largely dominating online discussions. Indeed, this slowdown in searches may be a sign of some fatigue or stabilization of Bitcoin. With a Bitcoin price around $63,000, this decrease in attention could reflect some market maturity, or simply a transition to more speculative assets.
Among the reasons cited for this decline in interest, investors point to a globally calmer environment for Bitcoin. BTC hasn’t experienced major movements or events likely to fuel media buzz in recent months, unlike the frenzy observed during previous bullish cycles. Thus, investors seem to turn to other more volatile and risky opportunities, leaving Bitcoin for projects with potentially more explosive returns, like memecoins.
The Irresistible Rise of Memecoins: A Fad or a Lasting Movement?
While interest in Bitcoin declines, memecoins have seen their popularity explode. According to Step Finance, 491,000 new tokens have been created on the Solana network since September 2024, the majority of which are memecoins. On October 9, 2024, nearly 20,000 new tokens were launched in a single day, a figure illustrating the craze for these cryptos. Justin Sun, founder of Tron, also highlighted this dynamic through the launch of the SunPump platform, which allows anyone to create their own memecoins on the Tron network. “This boom in memecoins is the result of growing demand for speculative assets with a low entry cost,” notes CryptoQuant.
However, this explosion in popularity is not without risk. Many observers warn of the dangers associated with excessive speculation around memecoins. Indeed, each memecoin is a potential scam. While memecoins have become the best-performing sector in 2024, with a capitalization exceeding $10 billion on Solana, their long-term prospects remain unclear. These ultra-speculative cryptos could collapse as quickly as they have risen, leaving many investors high and dry.
The rise of memecoins raises questions about the direction the crypto market is taking. This growing popularity in the face of declining interest in Bitcoin testifies to a shift in investor preferences, but this turn toward extreme speculation carries obvious risks. While these assets attract for their potential for quick gains, they also remind us of the pitfalls of a market constantly seeking new opportunities, sometimes at the expense of caution. The coming weeks may well determine whether memecoins are here to stay or whether they are just a passing bubble.
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Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d’une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j’ai rejoint l’aventure Cointribune en 2019.
Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l’économie, j’ai pris l’engagement de sensibiliser et d’informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu’elle offre. Je m’efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l’actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.